I guess the reviewer doesn’t care about software updates, because Motorola’s support is abysmal.
According to the article it's only getting one year of Android version updates!? For a phone that normally sells for 400 US dollars, that's just unacceptable.
I’m trying to wrap my brain around why anyone would want a stylus for their phone.
Niche case- I'm a maths teacher and it's been good for replying to emails from students with problems.
Some people like to make art on their phone. Others like to use it for note taking. I came across a TikTok creator that has the S23 Ultra and he uses the stylus to edit/make photos and videos.
Some find it easier to swipe with as well.
Bought one for my kid because he's a little artist. Seems nice. I use a Pixel, but honestly I miss the moto "chop chop to turn on the flashlight" feature from my old Moto.
I miss that flashlight thing too. Also on Pixel now but I used an app called edge gestures to activate my flashlight. I just swipe up on the edge of my screen and hold to activate/deactivate. Not as awesome but very functional. If course I use edge gestures for everything, calling/texting certain contacts, activating apps I use regularly, it's such an awesome tool. Been using for years at this point and can't imagine using my phone without it.
I have the 2022 version of this phone, and it's great value for money in the USA. Adequate performance, lots of internal storage, headphone jack, MicroSD slot, and good battery life. I didn't buy it for the (crappy) stylus, I bought it for the good value for money.
The 2023 version most notably updates the SoC from SD695 to SD6g1, which is about 15-20% faster and more efficient. It also adds stereo speakers, which is nice. It seems like everything else is only a marginal change or the same from last year.
For that price point I've had a really good time with using Xiaomi phones. Specifically the Redmi Note series. They're similarly cheap but they're built well and feel expensive, not with a plastic case or anything like that.
Moto has a history of horrible updates to its devices. This is despite the fact that Moto has a near stock UI.
According to the article it's only getting one year of Android version updates. That's pitiful, Samsung gives three or four years of Android version updates for similarly priced phones.
You can do a lot better for the price if you're prepared to go without the stylus. Also no OIS on a main camera, and only one year of Android version updates, on a 400 US dollar phone (300 is only a limited discount) in 2023? Surely not. At this price point you can get a Northing Phone 1 or Samsung Galaxy A73 5G, witch both have a much faster and efficient processor, better cameras and much better software support with more Android version updates, some form of water/dust resistance, and OLED displays.
No wonder why Motorola phones are no longer available in my country.
I've been getting the g power series for a while now. Battery life is important to me in my field of work. And for ~$200 it's hard to beat. No, it doesn't have a great display, or even true 5g. No OLED or high refresh rate. It does have a 5000ma battery that can last two or three days of use. Head phone jack, SD card slot. Features somehow missing from premium offerings?
